By Christopher Makaza

MDC leader Nelson Chamisa has confirmed the rot in the MDC-led local authorities, warning that he will get rid of corrupt elements within the party.

Chamisa made the revelations during his ‘Thank you’ rally held in Sakubva, Mutare at the weekend.

“Ndirikunzwa ma reports ezvirikuitika muma councils edu eMDC, corruption, corruption, corruption. Not only in councils, even some MDC legislators are being accused of corruption, I have all the records. Let me warn those involved that we will deal with them accordingly.  We will expose and eliminate them,” he said.

Due to corruption and incompetence, most MDC led councils are failing to provide basic services like refuse collection, roads rehabilitation, providing clean and safe water and repairing burst sewage and water pipes, exposing residents to deadly diseases such as cholera and dysentery. These councils have turned towns countrywide into garbage and trench cities.

Several lives were lost last year and beyond due to typhoid and other related diseases because of dirty water being supplied to residents by the MDC urban councils.

In 2010, the then MDC formation led by Morgan Tsvangirai resolved to set up an independent commission to probe corruption among its councillors, ministers, legislators and top leaders after its several leaders were investigated for allegedly engaging in corrupt activities. Among those accused of corruption were the then Energy and Power Development Minister, Elias Mudzuri, co-Home Affairs Minister, Giles Mutsekwa and Mines deputy minister Murisi Zwizwai.